Laois chalk up first win with new chief

Laois chalked up their first win under new manager Liam Kearns this afternoon as they made use of a second half wind advantage to secure a 1-11 to 0-7 O'Byrne Cup first round victory over Kildare.

Former Limerick boss Kearns fielded an experimental side, with injury ruling out the likes of Joe Higgins, Aidan Fennelly and Billy Sheehan, but Laois did enough to warrant the win.

In front of a 2,000-strong Portarlington crowd, Kildare made a good start with Ken Donnelly, a 2006 White Star, and Tommy Archibald both pointing.

Laois, who had Annanough's Rory Stapleton making his debut at left corner back, hit back on 17 minutes when a neat ball in found full-forward Brian McCormack unmarked and he crashed a shot to the back of the net.

The O'Moore men led 1-2 to 0-3 at the break with Michael Tierney and Ross Munnelly hitting their points - Twomilehouse's Niall Browne replied for Kildare.

A goal looked on the cards for Munnelly, late in the half, but rather than shooting first time, the Arles-Kilcruise attacker hopped the ball and opted to fist it over the crossbar.

Kildare's Adrian McAndrew also watched on in agony as his 15-yard effort crashed back off the bar.

A run of four successive points with Gary Kavanagh (0-2), David Murphy and McCormack all on target stretched Laois' lead during the early part of the second half and Kildare had little in reply, despite the best efforts of Allenwood's McAndrew.

With Darren Rooney, Colm Kelly from the St. Joseph's club and Padraig McMahon away on holidays and Noel Garvan not fully-committed to the side until next month, it was a heartening start to the season for Laois.

Former captain Graham Geraghty saw red as Meath slumped to a 1-11 to 0-13 defeat to Louth, after extra-time in Drogheda.

Colm Coyle's first game in charge of the Royals will be remembered for Geraghty's 48th-minute sending-off. The Seneschalstown clubman was seen to tangle with Mark Brennan before he had words with referee Noel Cocoman and the Dublin official saw fit to then brandish the red card.

Geraghty and his former All-Ireland winning team-mate Darren Fay, who was making his inter-county comeback, were Meath's best players in a first half which ended level at 1-4 to 0-7.

Full-back Fay kept tabs on Colm Kearney and sent out a number of telling clearances while Geraghty was proving to be a menace at full-forward. Still, Louth moved into a 1-2 to no score lead before Meath got going.

Christy Grimes and Darren Clarke (free) both pointed to sandwich Mark Brennan's seventh-minute goal - the Louth centre forward pulled on the ball first time to slam past Meath stopper Brendan Murphy.

The Trim goalkeeper redeemed himself when saving at the feet of Clarke on the half-hour mark and four points from the boot of free-taker Brian Farrell saw Meath get back on terms for the break.

Grimes and Farrell exchanged frees before Clarke added two points to Louth's tally and Geraghty's dismissal. Farrell kept the Royals in the hunt, running his tally up to seven points as the sides ended normal time at 1-9 to 0-12.

But extra-time points from wing back Ray Finnegan and Grimes, who held his nerve to send the last kick of the game through the posts, saw the Wee county take the spoils. Louth had corner back Alan Page sent off for his second bookable offence during the first period of extra-time.

DIT pulled off the shock of the first round when they got the better of Longford, taking a 2-9 to 0-14 win away from Michael Fay Park. Kevin McKenna and Robert Dunne raised the all-important green flags for the Dublin students.

Offaly, under new boss Pat Roe, came from behind to beat UCD 2-14 to 2-6, while a goal from John Connellan and a 2-2 haul from second half substitute Dessie Dolan inspired Westmeath to a 2-14 to 0-6 success against Athlone IT.

O'BYRNE CUP FIRST ROUND RESULTS -

Wicklow 1-12 Carlow 2-6, Aughrim (played Saturday)

Longford 0-14 DIT 2-9, Michael Fay Park

Offaly 2-11 UCD 2-6, Tullamore

Laois 1-11 Kildare 0-7, Portarlington

Louth 1-11 Meath 0-13, Drogheda (after extra-time)

Wexford - Dundalk IT -, Tagoat (walkover win for Wexford)

Westmeath 2-14 Athlone IT 0-6, Mullingar

Tuesday: Dublin v DCU, Clanna Gael Fontenoy, Ringsend, 7.30pm.